I got up this morning.

That was a big mistake. I had a feeling even before I opened my eyes that the day would be better spent under a nice warm quilt, However, as a carer such luxuries are just a wistful memory.

The first sign of trouble was when I opened the window blinds. Snow! The whole garden was white and it was still snowing heavily. Bugger! I used to love snow but that love has been somewhat thawed with the passing of years, Snow has become just a nuisance.

The next thing I discovered was the Ukraine affair had blown up while I had been asleep. Fuck! I definitely should have stayed in bed. Days like this are best spent in the arms of Morpheus with a sign on the bedroom door saying “Wake at your own peril”. I remember those days from long long ago.

As I pottered around doing my morning chores and doling out the medication for the three of us [yes – Penny is now on permanent medication too. We’re a united family] Herself had the radio on. Naturally the radio was non-stop stuff about the Ukraine affair. Various people, some with very tenuous connections to the country were giving air to their opinions and condemnations. I could hear the adrenalin in the voices. After two years of non-stop coverage of the Virus I suppose it was a relief and exciting to have a different topic?

Herself was philosophical about the snow.

“It looks lovely” said she. “Isn’t it great that we had a grocery delivery yesterday? There’s no need for you to go anywhere.”

“I was thinking of dropping down to the village later.”

“No way are you going down to the village. We have everything we need so you are not going out in that snow. Do you hear me? You are not going out!”

“We’re running low on cigarettes.”

“Wrap up warm when you go.”

It’s all a matter of priorities.